Electric switch.



No. 639,l95. Pa tented Dec. l2, I899. w. ELY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Application filed Mar. 14, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Patented Dec. l2, I899.

No. 639,l95.

v w. ELY. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Application Med Mar. 14, 1899.]

3 Sheets8het 2.

(No Model.)

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No. 639,!95. Patented Dec. I2, I899. W. ELY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Application filed Mar. 14, 1899.

(.No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'WILLIAM ELY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,195, dated December 12, 1899.

Application filed March 14, 1899. Serial No. 709,047. No model.)

To (tZZ whom, it nay conceiva- Be itknown that I, WILLIAM ELY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention applies more especially to that class of electric switches having opposite sets of circuit-terminals, a contact member adapted for engagement with the circuit-terminals, and means for causing the primary storage of energy sufficient to cause the automatic transfer of the contact member from one set of circuit-terminals to the opposite set. Prior to my present invention this class of switches had in many conditions of practical work proven to be defective for the reason that the movement of the contact member once begun was beyond the control of the operator of the switch, as there was no provision of means for intercepting the contact member in its passage from one set of circuit-terminals to the opposite set. Under the modern practice of using electric currents of high power, as well as in electric-lighting systems, this inability to control the movement of the contact member, so as to establish and maintain a break in both circuits, had come to be a well-recognized and serious defect.

The object of my invention is to provide in a double -throw switch means whereby the contact member may at the will of the opera tor of the switch be intercepted in its flight from one set of circuit-terminals to the opposite set or be permitted at the will of the operatorto pass without obstruction from one set of circuit-terminals to the other. I also provide for the automatic transference of the contact member from its intercepted position into circuit-making contact with either set of circuit-terminals at the will of the operator of Fig. 8 is an edge view showing the locking device in position to allow uninterrupted movement of the contact member from one set of circuit-terminals to the other set. Fig. l is a'similar view showing the locking device in position to intercept the contact member in its movement from one set of circuit-terminals to the other set. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the locking device in position to hold the contact mem ber in its intercepted position. Fig. 6 is a top view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the switch, showing the locking device in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and by the dotted lines the position of the actuating means preparatory to imparting movement to the contact member in the direction indicated by the arrow. Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively an edge and side view of a modified form of my invention. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 illustrate another modified form of my invention.

Similar reference letters and numerals indicate like parts where they occu r in the drawings.

\Vhile my invention is applicable to any form of double-throw switch, I have for convenience sake illustrated in the accompanying drawings its application to a switch havin g the following elements, viz: a switch-base A, standards B B, secured thereon, a rotatable shaft 0, journaled in said standards and carrying on one side one or more contact members, as D 1), arranged for engagement, as desired, either with circuitterminals, as H ll I1 I1 arranged at one side of said shaft 0, or with similar sets of circuit-terminals I I l I at the opposite side of said shaft, and means for actuating said contact members consisting of a lever, as F, loosely pivoted upon said shaft for movement without reference to the movement of the latter and 0011- nected by a spring, as G, with a crank-arm E, rigidly secured upon said shaft 0, whereby the contact members are transferred from one set of circuit-terminals to the opposite set automatically as influenced by energy primarily stored in said spring for the purpose.

I will now proceed to explain the application of my invention to a switch of the above character.

Upon one side of the standard B, I pivot a pawl 1, provided with laterally projecting arms 2 2 and a handle or thumb-piece 3.

Springs, as 4 a, are respectively attached at one end to one of said arms 2 and at their opposite ends to the standard 13 and serve to hold the pawl 1 in either its disengaged position, Fig. 5, or in its engaging position, Figs. l and 5, as may be desired. As illustrated in the first seven figures of the drawings, the standard B is provided with a notch b, and the shaft 0 is provided with a collar or disk 0, also provided with a notch or recess, as 5, adapted upon the rotation of the shaft 0 to be brought into line with the notch Z) of the standard 13 and with the latter to be engaged by the nose 7 of the pawl 1, Figs. 5 and (3, to thereby intercept the contact member, as D, in its passage from one set of circuit-terminals to the opposite set and hold it in its in tercepted position, Figs. 5, 0, and 7.

Referring now to the first seven figures of the drawings, I will explain the operation of myinvention asthere illustrated. The contact member D being in circuit-making contact with the circuit-terminals II II, Figs. 1 and 2, and it being required to transfer it antomatically out of contact with the circuitterminals II II into circuit-making contact with the opposite circuit-terminals I I, the pawl 1 is by the one operating the switch turned upon its pivot into the position shown in Fig. 3 and is held in that position by the springs at 4, and the contact member D may then, as operated by its actuating means, pass from one set of circuit-terminals to the opposite set without obstruction. On the other hand, if it is desired to stop and hold the contact member at a pointout of cont-act with both sets of circuit-terminals the pawl .1 is turned into the position shown in Fig. at and is held in that position by its springs at at until the contact member in its passage from one set of circuit-terminals to the opposite set has reached a point where the notch 5 in the collarO comes into position opposite the notch Z) of the standard B, when the springs 4t 4 carry the pawl 1 forward automatically into ei'igagement with the notch 5,thereby intercepting the contact member I) in its flight and looking it in its intercepted position out of possibility of undesirable contact with either set of circuit-terminals, Figs. 5, O, and 7. In order to transfer the contact member from its intercepted position into contact with either set of circuit-terminals, the pawl 1 is left in its engaged position until by the movement of the actuating-lever F in the desired direction sufficient energy has been stored in the spring G to automatically carry the contact member into the desired circuit-making contact with the set of circuitterminals, when the operator withdraws the pawl 1 out of engagement with thenotches 5 and 12, thereby permitting the contact member D to be transferred into circuit-making contact with the circuit-terminals. In Fig. 7

I have illustrated the contact member on the point of being carried in the direction inclicated by the arrow and by dotted lines the position assumed by the actuating-lever F and the spring G in storing the energy required for the desired rapid transferof the contact member D from its intercepted to its contact position. In order to transfer the contact member from its intercepted position, Fig. 7, into circuitmaking contact with the opposite set of circuit terminals I I, the actuatinglever F would be carried toward said circuit-terminals orinto the reverse of the position shown i by the dotted lines until the energy stored in the spring G was sufficient to carry the contact member into contact with said terminals, when the operator by withdrawing the pawl 1, as before, would release the contact member and allow it to be transferred into contact with those terminals.

In the form shown in Figs. 8 and 9 instead of the notch 5 in the collar C, I use a projecting lug or pin, as 6, adapted to engage with one side or the other of the pawl 1 to intercept the movement of the contact member D, such engagement being bad against that side of the pawl toward which the contact member is moving. Continued movement of the contact member in the same direction from its intercepted position to the opposite set of circuit-terminals is effected by the storage of energy in the spring G against the restraint of the pawl 1 and the withdrawal of said pawl by the operator, as in the previous case. Return of the contact member from its intercepted to its original position is effected by temporarily withdrawing the pawl 1 and bringing it into contact with the opposite side of the lug or pin 6, which will then serve to hold the contact member until sufficient energy is stored in the spring G by the movement of the actuating-lever F, when upon withdrawal of the pawl 1 by the operator the contact member will be returned to its original position in contact with the circuit-terminals.

In Figs. 10, 11, and 12 I have illustrated another form in which the contact member is intercepted in its passage from one set of circuit-terminals to the opposite set and held in its intercepted position by means of a springcontrolled key 8, arranged for sliding movement in the handle of the actuating-lever L, (illustrated as bifurcated,) and operated at the will of the one operating the switch by a pusher 9, extending out through said handle to protrude into the path of the contact memher and intercept it by engagement with a notch 11 in the end of said member and hold it in its intercepted position. A spring-coir trolled sliding pin 12, located in the side of the standard 13, is adapted to engage with the rear end of said contact member, and thereby lock it in its intercepted position, and also to serve as an aid in the distention of the spring G for the storage of the energy required to transfer the contact member from its intercepted position into circuit-making contact with either set of circuit-terminals. In tl form the contact member, unless intercepted ICO by the protrusion of the key 8 into its path, as described, will pass without obstruction from one set of circuit-terminals to the opposite set.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In an electric switch having opposite sets of circuit-terminals, the combination of a contact member for engagement with the circuitterminals, and means for the primary storage of suflicient energy for causing the automatic transfer of the contact member from one set of circuit-terminals to the opposite set, and means for intercepting the contact member in its flight, at the will of the operator, and holding it in its intercepted position.

2. In an electric switch having opposite sets of circuit-terminals, the combination of a contact member for engagement with the circuitterminals, and means for causing the rapid transfer of the contact member from one set of circuit-terminals to the other with means for intercepting the contact member in its passage and automatically locking the same in its intercepted position.

3. In an electric switch having opposite sets of circuit-terminals, the combination of a contact member for engagement with the circuittact member for engagement with the circuit-' terminals, an actuating member, and aspring connecting the actnating member and contact member, and adapted to cause the rapid transfer of the contact member from one set of circuit-terminals to the opposite set, with means for intercepting the contact member in its passage from one set of circuit-terminals toward the other and locking the same in its intercepted position out of contact with the said circuit-terminals.

WILLIAM ELY.

Witnesses:

HENRY MARSH, J r., A. A. DE 005mm. 

